At the conference, RIA unveiled the Body of Knowledge document that lays out the foundation restorers will need into the future. It breaks up the process of earning the CR designation into more manageable pieces, with the ability to earn a water loss specialist, fire loss specialist, contents loss specialist, and/or environmental restoration specialist designation. Lowry said it’s “exciting to see where the advanced designations are going with the new certifications and how they tie into the Certified Restorer Designation. Can’t wait to apply for the Contents Loss Specialist!”
Students participating in the program must also complete a thesis project that becomes part of a library of advanced documents available to all members and the industry. Gillette added that the Education Committee led by Mark Springer “will solidify our association as the premier source of education and accreditation in our industry.”